It doesn’t matter if you are a new golfer or have been playing the game your entire life, having a great fairway wood in your golf bag is a must. The fairway woods on the market today allow golfers to get more distance, forgiveness, and incredible ball flight. Fairway woods come in a wide range of lofts and styles. The only hard part is narrowing down which is the best for your game. We have put together some of the best fairway wood options on the market. Whether you are a TaylorMade SIM2 Max style golfer or somebody who would do better with a Ping G425 Max, we considered all of these options. Here are the best fairway woods to buy in 2021.
Our list of the BEST Fairway Woods
- TaylorMade SiM2 Max Fairway (Best Overall Fairway Wood)
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 (Most Forgiving Fairway Woods)
- Callaway Mavrik Max (Best Value Fairway Woods)
- Cleveland Golf Turbo Launcher (Best Fairway Wood For Women Golfers)
- Callaway Epic Speed (Best Fairway Woods For Distance)
Best Overall Fairway Wood: TaylorMade SiM2 Max Fairway
Most golfers are not only looking for accuracy in their fairway woods, but they want some distance as well. The new 190cc club head and center of gravity placement on the TaylorMade SIM2 Max fairway allows it to have incredible distance and higher launch.
We love the new V Stell design that allows for better turf interaction and some workability. This is what makes the TaylorMade SIM2 Max a good fit for both the higher handicapper and the mid handicapper.
Many new fairway woods on the market have an enormous club head, which can be difficult to play with. The SIM2 Max is more of a standard size and quite pleasing to the eye. The only problem with this fairway wood is that you will want several of them in your golf bag!
Pros
- Multi-material construction for increased performance
- One of the best fairway woods for distance and forgiveness
- Higher ball flight than previous TaylorMade SIM Max fairway woods
Cons
- Still, a newer release, so pricing is a bit higher.
Most Forgiving Fairway Woods: Callaway Big Bertha B21
Slower swing speed golfers tend to struggle with the forgiveness they get from their fairway woods. Sometimes, it is hard to get the distance and launch characteristics with lower swing speeds, especially from 3 woods. However, with the new technology in the Callaway B21 fairway, forgiveness and higher launch is attainable.
This is a lighter-weight fairway wood with a forgiving shaft and impressive turf interaction. Clubs made by Titleist, Cobra, TaylorMade, and Callaway incorporate more and more forgiveness into their designs.
Callaway uses artificial intelligence to enhance the performance of this carbon fiber crown and lighter overall weight fairway wood. If your shots are inconsistent, the features of the Callaway B21 fairway wood will help you straighten things out.
Pros
- Several loft options to choose from
- Forgiving club head with a large sweet spot
- High launch fairway wood
Cons
- Head shape is a little large for some players styles
Best Value Fairway Woods: Callaway Mavrik Max
It’s quite a compliment when a company calls a club the longest fairway wood they ever made. Although the new Epic Speed and Epic Max Fairway woods came out in 2021 to challenge the Mavrik fairway woods, these are still great options to consider. If you need a mix of forgiveness and ball speed, the Mavrik can do it for you.
The new Flash Face SS20 face is very hot, and the shaft options are premium. The 3 wood seems to be almost as large as a driver, yet the club head size is not all that noticeable when you swing it. IF you need a backup off the tee for those days when the driver is not easy to hit, the Callaway Mavrik offers a great alternative.
Pros
- Price has dropped considerably
- Impressive features and tour weight
- Low spin for more roll and higher ball flight
Cons
- A golf ball can look quite small compared to the size of the face, takes a little while to get used to
Best Fairway Wood For Women Golfers: Cleveland Golf Turbo Launcher
The fairway wood decision for women golfers tends to be even more difficult than for male golfers. Women golfers tend to struggle to get distance on the golf course, and therefore choosing the longest fairway that is easiest to launch is essential.
The Cleveland Golf Turbo launcher has a low center of gravity and the traditional Hi Bore Crown. The fairway woods Clevland has brought to the market are getting highly technical and advanced; however, the Turbo Launcher keeps things simple. There is no adjustable hosel, just one setting that is forgiving and provides optimal launch conditions.
The Cleveland Launcher beat out the Cobra Radspeed and Honma T World GS as the best fairway wood for women golfers. IF you want a no-nonsense design that is affordable and easy to use, the Launcher is your best choice.
Pros
- Proven design has been around for many years
- One of the best fairway woods for the money
- Very easy to launch
- Higher ball speed than other models for women
Cons
- An adjustable hosel would make the loft purchasing decision a bit easier
Best Fairway Woods For Distance: Callaway Epic Speed
Are you surprised to see so many Callaway fairway woods on our list? Don’t be!
Callaway has some of the best fairway woods on the market, and they just keep getting better and better. The Callaway Epic Speed has taken all of the speed and feel technology from the last few years and combined it into this impressive and forgiving club head. The Callaway Epic Speed Fairway wood features an AI Velocity Blade and a C300 Maraging Steel for better spin and consistency.
Although the Epic Max Fairway Wood also offers some incredible performance, the Epic Speed stands out from a distance performance. If you know that you are close to hitting some par fives in two, this could be the club that gets you there.
Pros
- Great looking club head style
- Smart to use this wood off the tee to replace the driver
- Impressive feel
- Higher ball speed than Cobra Radspeed, Srixon ZX, and Ping G425 Max
Cons
- An expensive fairway wood, especially if you try to put more than one in your golf bag.
Buyers Guide
Now that you have a better idea of the best technology and clubs for fairway woods on the market, let’s take a look at some of the criteria for breaking down which is the best for your game.
Lofts
Fairway woods come in a range of lofts from around 13 degrees to over 25 degrees. The standard 3 wood will be about 15 degrees, where the standard 5 wood should be about 19 degrees. When you purchase a fairway wood, make sure that it does not overlap with the lofts on your hybrids or driver. The loft gapping in your golf clubs is extremely important.
Shaft
Most golfers will choose the same shaft they have in their driver in the fairway wood. However, since hitting the fairway wood from the grass as opposed to a tee can be a little more difficult, some will stick with a more flexible shaft. It is not uncommon to see a golfer with a stiff shaft in their driver and a regular in their fairway wood.
Adjustability
Not all fairway woods are adjustable. Having the adjustable technology allows you to have a more custom fit on your fairway wood. The problem, of course, is that the adjustability in the hosel adds weight to the club. For slower swing speed players, the right fairway wood is typically the one that is a bit lighter in weight and does not have adjustability.
Price
The price of fairway woods has continued to go up through the years, right along with the drivers and irons. If you are purchasing one fairway for your bag, the price may not be all that bad. The problem comes when you try to put two or three of these in your golf bag.
When looking for a great deal, try to consider an option that is one year old. Something like the Callaway Mavrik fairway wood is a great example, you can get a good deal on the club, but the technology is still relevant and impressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions that golfers tend to ask about fairway woods. This is not a club that is used quite as often as some others in the bag, and therefore asking questions before you buy is a smart decision to make.
What Is The Best 3 Wood of 2021?
The best 3 wood of 2021 remains the TaylorMade SIM2 Max fairway wood. The 3 wood is incredibly easy to hit, offers high launch and easy turf interaction. Even when you miss this slightly, you are going to get the distance and ball flight that you need.
What Brand Makes The Best Fairway Woods?
Callaway typically produces the best fairway woods on the market. As you can see from our list of the best fairway woods in 2021, Callaway makes up a large portion of the best fairway woods on the market.
Can I Use A Fairway Wood Off A Tee?
The great thing about fairway woods is that they make a good alternative to a driver off the tee. If you are not having a good day with your driver, simply switch it out for a fairway wood and get around the golf course in a controlled and solid manner. When you have time to go to the range to fix your driver, add it back into your game. Fairway woods are versatile and make a great addition to any golf bag.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now feel ready to purchase a fairway wood with full confidence that you are getting something great for your golf game. The TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Fairway stands out as the best overall choice on the market. We were incredibly impressed with how easy this club was to launch and to hit. The ball flight is effortless, and the roll continues long after the ball hits the ground. Although all companies try to say their golf clubs are getting longer each year, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max really did increase their distance technology and performance. You might want to get one today before TaylorMade stops making them.
Related Content:
